Tir na n-Og 2011 English Award Announced

The 2011 English Award has been won by Rob Lewis for his picture book, ‘Three Little Sheep’ . Written and illustrated by Rob, this delightful book has been described as a “gem” and “an outstanding example of its type”.

A full-time children’s author and illustrator, Rob Lewis has written and illustrated almost 40 books, several of which have been translated into Welsh. Although born in London, he spent his early years in Dolgellau before the family settled in Bath. Rob moved back to Wales in 1990. He studied Graphic Design at the University of the West of England, Bristol between 1982 and 1985, and his first book, ‘Hello Mr Scarecrow’, was published in 1986. Rob has over 25 years’ experience of visiting schools and libraries throughout Britain and was recently involved with Tyne2Seine, an Anglo-French literacy project developed by Tyneside Libraries. He is about to start on a major project for the Wales Millennium Centre involving seven schools across Wales.

‘Three Little Sheep’ is published by Pont Books, Gomer Press and opens with the sheep, who are happily roaming the meadow, being frightened when a singing wolf pops out of a hole in the ground. The sheep flee and the wolf pursues them with dogged determination. But all is not what it seems, and this wolf is far from the stereotypical fairy tale wolf! Rob Lewis presents the tale in an easy rhythmical style and rhyme, maintaining the tension until the very end.

Rob Lewis said, “Having won the Tir na n-Og award in 2003, I was absolutely delighted and honoured to have won this major award for the second time. ‘Three Little Sheep’ was a joy to write and illustrate and I hope that readers of all ages will be entertained by this tale of a well-intentioned wolf and three unsuspecting sheep!”

The award is sponsored by The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Wales and was presented to the author at a ceremony held at the CILIP Wales annual conference at Llandrindod Wells, Powys, on 12 May.

Elwyn Jones, Director of the Welsh Books Council, said, “There was a wealth of books to be considered for this year’s Tir na n-Og Award, reflecting the quality and range of books for children. It is with great pleasure that we warmly congratulate the author and the publisher on their achievement.”